LauLau Trail

Another "easy" hike is planned for Sunday, with an earlier starting time of 6:00 a.m. The meeting location of the old Chamorro Village driveway gets some confused reactions as almost everyone is not familiar with the existence of the restaurant that has been defunct for over twenty years. Driving instruction goes to all the hikers.
We are able to gather many hikers at the appointed time at the restaurant's driveway on LauLau Bay Dr. The early morning air is cool, and we are happy to be starting early.

While waiting, we hear a cacophony of bird callings in the air. Looking up, we see dozens of excited sooty terns darting around, probably disturbed by our presence.

We see up in the iron wood trees many nests and waiting parents. It is obviously nesting season, and this is the sooty terns' territory. 

Sooty Terns. Also known as Wideawake Terns.

Everyone is very excited to check out the old Chamorro Village. The driveway is open and we make our way up. The "oldies" in our group remember that the restaurant used to be a favorite gathering place for food and dance shows, and to enjoy the wonderful view of LauLau Bay. The "newbies" are not familiar with that scene and will see the restaurant for the first time. 

Alas, only a skeletal frame is left of the previously popular restaurant. The floor is completely gone, and is covered with debris. Even now, we can still remember the restaurant crowded with regular patrons, and the local dance performance on the stage at the far end of the large room. Rexplorer and CB reminisce, and Miles wonders.

The sunrise view of LauLau Bay from the deck.

The popular deck where diners and drinkers can sit and enjoy the view and the evening breeze, is now strewn with trash and debris, and the view mostly blocked by overgrown bushes. Now everyone lingers here and take pictures. 

We leave behind the past and continue on our way north on LauLau Bay Dr.  

A detour onto the beach gives us the perfect location for a group photo: CC, Ewok, Risa, WonderWoman, Rexplorer, CB, PTShelley, RedEye, Miles, and a jubilant Cutie.

CB strolling on the beach.

Instead of retracing our steps back to the road, we meander through a rock formation and remains of fallen trees and bushes.  

Miles and PT finding their way through the jungle.

Risa and PT coming out of the jungle with a big sigh of relief.

Suddenly we see Scout coming down the road in his big truck, with SoccerFish and other passengers in the back. He has gone to another location for the morning meeting, and finally gives up waiting for us. 

It's another of Boy's family. The girl pup Aloha is quite excited and happy to get lots of attention and head rubs from new admirers.  

PanPan and Aloha.

On the road again!

This cave has been a mystery to us for a long time, and since no one has brought a flashlight, Rexplorer uses a cell phone to shed some light into the deep cave. It may be a future exploration.

The blue sky is beautiful, and the sun shines brightly on us. The road used to be mostly under shady tree, but now with most of the trees, big and small, down from the typhoon, we are almost totally exposed in the heat.

We never make it to the edge of LauLau Golf Course and the diving platform, as our original goal. Instead, we turn around to meet up with Ewok and WW who are waiting for us on the beach side. We have our usual feast of snacks, and relaxation. As the heat is intensifying, we return to the parking cars and call it a day.

While waiting for RedEye, Ewok entertains us with a jig...

The three hour and ten minute and 4.5 mile hike is fun and enjoyable. We may need to try again to reach the golf course. It is a four sneaker hike.

Naftan

An invitation to hike the Naftan trail goes out to our hiking group, and we are delighted that fifteen humans and one canine show up for the fun event. 
At 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, the sun is out and the heat is already palpable, everyone agrees that we will need to start our hikes earlier for the summer months.  

PanPan, Sonny, Scout, Kadi, Toni, Knohlynn, Cutie, RedEye, Fred (CaveMan), SoccerFish, CB, Gigs, Ewok, WonderWoman, Risa, CC, in front of Hawaiian Rock Quarry by the trail head.

Leaving Hawaiian Rock onto the wide open trail.

Risa and WonderWoman enjoying themselves.

While going uphill, LauLau Bay is clearly visible behind us. Fred takes a moment to appreciate the newly opened vista.

We decide to take the long and winding side trail that takes us to the large gap on the cliff. Toni and Knolynn, followed by Fred, are nearing the cliff.

This large "mouth" open to the ocean is apparently manmade to accommodate disposal of  equipment at the end of the war. The ground is covered with shards of broken and rusty metal, and piles of larger metal pieces from long-gone equipment.

WW and Risa Contemplating at the edge of the cliff.

The sharp slope and the impressive cut never fail to awe all the onlookers.  

Risk-taker CB makes her way slowly down the treacherous slope and comes up with this handful of salt crystals.

Meanwhile Kadi has taken a boonie path above the trail and finds a cave, but does not enter. He and Fred join us at the cliff.

On the way back out to the main trail, SoccerFish goes inside the boonies to retrieve the plastic bottle he has thrown in there. A valuable environmental lesson.

When we arrive at the main trail, RedEye decides to head back to the car, taking the water and snacks with him. Upon discovering the oversight, Kadi volunteers to chase down and retrieve the treasures from RedEye. Cutie watches...

A group of Sunday bikers have the same idea of enjoying the well maintained Naftan trail.

Coming upon the the bunker at the tip of Naftan, Scout and Kadi checking out the big gun.

Kadi, Knolynn, Toni, and Scout giving the gun and bunker a once over. The surrounding area has been cleared and access made easier for sightseeing.

A perfect spot to rest and snack. Scout, Sonny, SoccerFish, and PanPan leave earlier for their appointment. The rest of the group takes time to relax and enjoy the beautiful breeze, and total tranquility.

After snacks and rest, we head back, but not before we take a picture of The Newbies: Kadi, Knolynn, Toni, and CavemanFred.

We notice a five hundred pound dud bomb is roped off just on the side of the trail.

And CB calls these caper plant flowers.

Along the trail we also find a few shells.

On the way back Fred, Kadi, and Gigs check out this crack for future exploration. As the sun is bearing down on us and the heat is intense, we are happy to reach our cars back at the quarry.

This nearly 3.5-hour and just under five mile hike, although very hot, is altogether very enjoyable. We are not able to do more exploration into some of the side trails this time, but we are ready for another try in the near future. It is a four sneaker hike...

Singing the Sound of Music

Having called upon all those who have yet to hike on the current Sound of Music trails recently opened for the 2016 XTerra race, several hikers show up at the Coral Isle for the initial meeting at 6:20 a.m. Our plan is to leave a couple cars at the first parking area, then drive one or two cars up the road, just below the group of houses, so as to shorten the climb up the steep hill to the trail head. It is decided that RedEye and Cutie will take their car, Scout will take his car up the hill and park. Meanwhile, Giggles, Rexplorer, and CB opt to walk up. CC, SoccerFish, and PanPan ride in the truck with Scout. From our second parking spot, we climb up the next section of the steep hill to the trailhead. We gather at the trailhead and with wind blowing in our face we begin...

A lizard resting on this gnarly trunk on Aikens Lane. 

Aikens Lane veers off to a dirt trail. It appears to be fairly dry. From here we drop down to Sound of Music.

PanPan is delighted with being able to run around on the open field of Sound of Music. We notice, however, that the field has been fenced off. Does that mean it will be closed off for hikers and bikers? 

We decide to take our group photo now, using the telephone pole sections lying on the ground as our benches: SoccerFish, Cutie, RedEye, PanPan, Scout, Giggles, CB, Marcia, Rexplorer, CC.

Continuing through the wind-blown field of grass, we follow the XTerra trail, with view of 

LauLau Bay in the distance.

The trail drops down steadily. CB stops to take a photo of Rexplorer and CC

CB's candid shot of Rexplorer and CC.

Nature is starting to reclaim its territory and CB!

The trail continues to descend, everyone takes extra caution with several slippery and rocky segments. The savana is in sight, and Susupe in the distance. PanPan is way ahead of everyone.

Just before we drop down into the little forest, we can see clearly the damaged done by ATVs on the savana hillside. The grassland has several gouged out ruts that fan out in different directions, marking the landscape.

This little lush forest is like an oasis in the otherwise grassland only area. It is full of ferns, palms, and doni bushes, makes for a most pleasant hike through to the savana.

CB showing her agility.

Coming out of the forest, we turn up to the savana to find a rest stop. Here one can have a closeup look at the damaged grassland in the background.

The middle of the trail is as good as any for a stop to spread out our tablecloth and stuff ourselves with delicious snacks.

Marcia and PanPan have a lively tussle before they both call a truce. Rexplorer has left ahead of the group to attend to his next activity.

We retrace our steps and continue our circuitous hike onto Waserak Road 

Parts of Waserak remain muddy with puddles of water, another damage done by the large ATVs.

Last time we hiked on this trail right after the typhoon, the bamboo forest looked relatively unscathed, but this time the bamboos definitely show signs of lifelessness in many of the stalks. 

Yet new growths are sprouting to bring new life to the forest. A nice photo by CB.

This old beat up van has been on Waserak Rd for many years. Who is responsible for removing this eyesore? DPW? The Mayor's Office? The license plate shows registrations from '06 and '07.

Cutie and Marcia strolling on Waserak. Soon we come upon Tapochao Road where we will turn right to climb back up hill for the car. Giggles and Marcia turn left to go downhill to Giggle's car.  

Cutie and CB and CC successfully make the steep climb, pick up the car, drive downhill and see RedEye waiting on the side of the ride to hitch a ride!

The cool breeze and clear sky give us a fine day to make the circle hike around the base of Mt. Tapochao. Everyone has a great hike, and still has time to clean up, rest, and catch lunch!